What
is striking about the 2016 presidential election cycle is the subtle
differences among the Republican presidential candidates. You might say we have
ten, twenty or possibly even fifty shades of conservatives - either announced
as candidates, unannounced but possibly going to announce as candidates, or
simply sitting on the sidelines, watching and wondering if they will join in
the action. Whatever the number, there is no doubt the 2016 presidential
election season is starting off on an interesting note. Let's look at some of
the subtle, yet real differences,
among the announced and potential Republican hopefuls. [Go here for a complete analysis...]

The
GOP needs a bold positive message that will excite middle class Americans. Here
is the three-part plan that guarantees a presidential landslide in 2016. We
need to guarantee a job for every American, NOT a welfare check. Americans want
two things: a job and a system that is fair. Why would anyone go to work, if
others get to stay home, sleep late, watch “Dr. Phil,” play with their kids,
and collect welfare and food stamps? The current system is unfair and it’s
leading to the decline and eventual collapse of U.S. economy. The next GOP
president needs to promise "a job in every pot." He or she must declare
"I am the jobs president. I’m going to get America working again come hell
or high water. I will guarantee every American a job over the next four years.
PERIOD. And if I don't deliver, fire me."[more...]

Tax
Day, April 15, reminds us of just how overtaxed we have become and how a
circular cage of taxes on earning, spending, investing and saving is being
created to snare us. If you earn money to live on, you face income taxes
nationally as well as from 41 of the 50 states. If you buy anything, you face
sales taxes in all but five states – and some local sales taxes in those five. In
D.C., politicians now talk enthusiastically about imposing a national
European-style sales tax, an easily-increased Value-Added Tax (VAT) to soak
both companies and consumers. If you invest what little money you have left
after paying all your other taxes, get ready to pay capital gains taxes, which
the current administration aims to increase. [more...]

Your
U.S. Federal taxes are due. The average work week is over 40 hours now, and the
IRS has decided to veer from its job description and play the role of U.S. job
creator as well, after requesting funds for 9,000 new positions that would work
to enforce Obamacare regulations. These additional jobs will count as added
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which means more people working on taking rather
than making something useful like a service or product, which means someone - you,
a U.S. citizen - will be taking on the burden of financially covering the
expenses via heightened taxes. Each year the IRS makes changes to the tax code,
and this year is no exception. One out of every four businesses will be
affected by the Affordable Care Act. For those businesses or individuals that
do not offer private insurance, market insurance, or any type of qualifying
insurance at all, they will be required to pay the dreaded fine. However,
despite proposals for ongoing increased costs, there are ways to bypass and
cash in on the ultimate tax refund. [more...]

On
this week's POLITICAL INSIDERS, we discussed Hillary's campaign kick-off,
Marco Rubio's announcement, the state of the 2016 GOP race, and the latest on
the Iran Nuclear Deal (if there is one). Watch the segments here: Part
1, Part 2, Part
3, Part 4. [more...]